Deflector roll repositioning assembly



Nov. 7, 1967 K. F. ARNOLD DEFLECTOR ROLL REPOSITIONING ASSEMBLY v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fla-I l- INVENTOR.

KARL E ARNOLD M.

Filed Jan. 21, 1965 Attorney wwwm Nov. 7, 1967 K. F. ARNOLD DEFLECTOR ROLL REPOSITIONING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 Shear D, L mo 1 T e NR m 0 f M N. L M K W,

United States Patent ()fi ice 3,350,904 Patented! Nov; 7, 1967 3,350,904 DEFLECTOR ROLL REPOSITIONING ASSEMBLY Karl F. Arnold, Gary, Ind., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,929 3 Claims. (CI. 72-17) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An assembly for use in combination with a strip rolling mill and shear to facilitate periodic shearing of the strip which comprises a deflector roll assembly useful in controlling strip tension during rolling and means to lower same to a position below the pass line to facilitate shearing of the strip and means to raise the deflector roll and restore it to its strip tension controlling position above the pass line.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in conjunction with metal rolling equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a repositioning device suitable for adjusting deflector rolls.

In the cold rolling of metal strip, some rolling mills utilize a pair of work rolls which are backed-up by supporting rolls having a relatively larger diameter as compared withv the diameter of the work rolls. One rolling mill of this type is the so-called four-high mill. It is customary in rolling mills of this type to apply back tension to the strip undergoing reduction and to also maintain a forward tension on the strip as it emerges from the pass of the work rolls prior to shearing and recoiling. If proper tension is not maintained, extension waves or patterns which affect quality will develop in the strip. The waves generally start from the center of the strip and continue to the edge. Keeping the strip flat, by proper deflection of the strip above the normal pass line as it is entering or leaving the work rolls of a mill train, with an accurately positioned deflector roll, will prevent formation of extension waves.

The positioning of the deflector roll is an important factor and must be precisely controlled. It has been found, for example, that the distance the deflector roll is positioned above the normal pass line is dependent upon the gauge of the strip being processed. The height above the pass line that the deflector roll should be positioned increases with the gauge of the material.

Shearing is another essential operation in a continuous processing line and is used for squaring the leading ends of coils and cutting unsound material from them. Occasionally, additional flaws appear which make it necessary to makeseveral cuts on a single coil. Apopular shearing device is a reciprocating shear with a fixed lower knife and a reciprocating upper knife. The reciprocating shear is usually installed at the exit end of the mill.

Deflecting the strip to control strip tension has given rise to difliculty in shearing and strip feeding. This dif' ficulty stems from the angle of deflection when the deflector roll is positioned above the pass line. It has been experienced, for example, that with the deflector roll in this position, the strip is bent or flexed in such a way that it is diflicult for the operator to manipulate and guide the strip into the shear. In addition, after the shearing operation, the end of the strip is bent in such a manner that it is difficult to insert it into the slot of a winding reel from the angle of the deflector roll and requires considerable manual handling which is tedious and time consuming.

The present invention provides a deflector roll repositioning assembly in which the deflector roll can be rapidly retracted to permit flat horizontal travel of the strip for shearing purposes and can be quickly and accurately repositioned with respect to the pass line to perform its normal function of deflecting the strip. The assembly includes separate means for adjusting the position of the deflector roll with respect to the pass line for deflection purposes and for withdrawing the deflector roll and its adjusting means to facilitate shearing and feeding the strip to and from rolling mills in a substantially horizontal pass line. By operation of the assembly, a deflector roll can be rapidly lowered below the horizontal pass line of a mill and rapidly and accurately repositioned as required.

The above and other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the deflecting roll and supporting means thereof;

FIGURE Z is a section taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the lines IIIIII of FIGURE 1.

The deflector roll repositioning assembly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.. includes a deflector roll base frame 2 that supports the deflector roll 4 and its assembly and drive base frame 6 that supports the equipment necessary to adjust the vertical displacement of the deflector roll.

Motor 8 is mounted on the drive base frame 6 and shaft assemblies 12 and 14 are connected from the motor to the deflector roll adjusting means. Although various devices may be employed, the adjusting means shown in the drawings are worm gear jacks which are easily installed and operated. The deflector roll base frame 2 and the drive base frame 6 are slidably mounted in slides 16 which are secured to mill housings 18, (as by the cap screws shown in the drawing). This arrangement permits the deflector roll 4 and its supporting frame 2 to be readily raised or lowered by operating the motor and the deflector roll can be thereby easily and accurately positioned to any desired height above the pass line.

Fixed support 29, which may be an I or H-beam, is secured to mill housing 18 and provides permanent support for means to raise and lower the deflector roll and its vertical adjusting means. Various means may be employed, but in the preferred embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 is used which is pivotally attached to the fixed support 20. Piston rod 26 of the hydraulic cylinder 24 is pivotally connected to an arm 28 which is carried by and pivotally attached to the linkages. The linkage arrangement comprises links 30 pivotally connected to drive base frame 6 and to links 32 which are also connected to fixed support 20. Bumper blocks 34 and 36 are provided to prevent movement of the deflector roll 4 and its assembly when either in the raised or lowered position.

The deflector roll repositioning assembly is shown in FIGURE 1 with the piston rod 26 of the hydraulic cylinder rod 24 extended so that the deflector roll 4 is in the raised position above the pass line. To lower the roll, the piston rod is retracted by the hydraulic cylinder and the deflector roll is then lowered below the pass line. (The phantom or dotted outline illustration in FIGURE 1 represents the position of the linkages when the deflector roll is lowered.)

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the strip S is deflected upwardly by the deflector roll which has been pre-adjusted to the desired height above the pass line and over which strip S travels. The adjustment of the deflector roll is made by energizing motor 8 which, by means of shaft assemblies 12 and 14, activates worm gear jacks 10, causing the deflector roll base frame 2 and the deflector roll 4 to move upwardly. The deflector roll adjusting means can he designed to permit vertical adjustment of the deflector roll within any suitable range so that the rolling mill can accommodate a variety of strip gauges. After completion of rolling and coiling and to facilitate shearing and feeding a fresh coil, the deflector roll is lowered below the normal pass line of the metal by actuating the hydraulic cylinder assembly 24 which is adapted through linkages to raise and lower the frames 2 and 6 as may be required to position the deflector roll the proper distance above or below the pass line.

The preferred construction of' the slides 16 is shown in FIGURE 3. Channels 17 of the slides are secured to the mill housings (e.g. with cap screws as shown). Slide bars 19, secured at opposite ends to drive base frame 6 (and deflector roll base frame 2), as by welding, are slidably mounted in channels 17. Anti-friction plates 21 are fastened to the slide bars for ease of movement and can be replaced when worn.

It is apparent from the above that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. As pointed out above, the hydraulic cylinder assembly used to raise and lower the deflector roll and the deflector roll adjusting means without affecting the adjustment of the deflector roll itself can be replaced with other means to accomplish this. Screw-down motors with jacks or worm gear arrangements can be effectively used. Similarly, other equipment may be used in place of the linkages described above to accomplish their function.

I claim:

1. In a processing line for rolling coils of strip including at least one pair of work rolls supported in a housing, means to feed strip thereto, means to coil said strip, and shearing means disposed on the exit side of said rolling mill and before said coiling means, the improvement comprising in combination therewith a deflector roll assembly adapted to be moved above and below the pass line of said rolling mill which comprises a deflector roll mounted so that it may be raised and lowered above and below the pass line of said processing line, means to adjust the positioning of said deflector roll with respect to said pass line and to support said deflector roll in the adjusted position, means to lower and raise said deflector roll and deflector roll adjusting means so that said deflector roll can be lowered below the pass line without altering the adjustment of said deflector roll adjusting means to facilitate shearing of the strip by said shearing means and,

after shearing, to raise said deflector roll into position above the pass line without the need of readjusting the deflector roll position with respect to the pass line.

2. An improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflector roll assembly includes at least one hydraulic cylinder rod retractable by a hydraulic cylinder for repositioning said deflector roll.

3. An improvement in accordance with claim 1 including a motor for energizing the deflector roll adjusting means and mechanical linkage responsive thereto for affecting movement of said deflector roll with respect to said pass line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,241 6/1934 Bedell 72--205 2,192,044 2/1940 Lessmann 72-205 2,250,540 7/ 1941 Lessmann 72-205 2,348,695 5/1944 Reichert 72-205 3,169,420 2/1965 Stone et al. 72205 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD A. DOST, Examiner. 

1. IN A PROCESSING LINE FOR ROLLING COILS OF STRIP INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF WORK ROLLS SUPPORTED IN A HOUSING, MEANS TO FEED STRIP THERETO, MEANS TO COIL SAID STRIP, AND SHEARING MEANS DISPOSED ON THE EXIT SIDE OF SAID ROLLING MILL AND BEFORE SAID COILING MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION THEREWITH A DEFLECTOR ROLL ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE MOVED ABOVE AND BELOW THE PASS LINE OF SAID ROLLING MILL WHICH COMPRISES A DEFLECTOR ROLL MOUNTED SO THAT IT MAY BE RAISED AND LOWERED ABOVE AND BELOW THE PASS LINE OF SAID PROCESSING LINE, MEANS TO ADJUST THE POSITIONING OF SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL WITH RESPECT TO SAID PASS LINE AND TO SUPPORT SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL IN THE ADJUSTED POSITION, MEANS TO LOWER AND RAISE SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL AND DEFLECTOR ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS SO THAT SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL CAN BE LOWERED BELOW THE PASS LINE WITHOUT ALTERING THE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS TO FACILITATE SHEARING OF THE STRIP BY SAID SHEARING MEANS SAID, AFTER SHEARING, TO RAISE SAID DEFLECTOR ROLL INTO POSITION ABOVE THE PASS LINE WITHOUT THE NEED OF READJUSTING THE DEFLECTOR ROLL POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE PASS LINE. 